Duron Carter from the 2010 season at Coffeyville Community College in a game played against Dodge City Community College on Sept. 4, 2010. / Handout, Coffeyville Community College

by Mike Garafolo, USA TODAY Sports

by Mike Garafolo, USA TODAY Sports

Cris Carter knows what issues scare NFL teams. Heck, he had plenty of them early in his career.

That's why he thinks his son, Duron, has a chance to make it on the professional level, even after a once-promising college career sputtered through four schools, a bunch of academic issues, only nine games played and plenty of questions about his work ethic from coaches and teammates who thought Duron's effort didn't match his ability level.

"He didn't commit a crime, he has no tattoos, he has no kids, and he's a pleasant kid. His thing is he hates school, though," Cris Carter told USA TODAY Sports. "And I'm his dad. He's really bright; he's got an IQ over 130. He just hates school. We gave him the pretest on the Wonderlic. He got a 28."

Well, that's part of the issue for the son of a former NFL star who arrived at Ohio State, his father's alma mater, with high expectations, but left with many more class absences in one semester than receptions (13) in 2009. Before practices for the Rose Bowl began that year, Carter received an e-mail telling him he was academically ineligible.

From there, it was on to Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College, which has served as a junior college stop for many a talented player ineligible because of transfer issues. Former New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs and Cincinnati Bengals safety Reggie Nelson are among those who have made stops at Coffeyville.

Carter's statistics during that one season were impressive (44 receptions for 690 yards and 10 touchdowns), as was his five-touchdown game in a 72-7 blowout of Dodge City. What didn't impress, apparently, was his work ethic.

"The team that drafts Duron Carter will get the most lazy, whiny & non-work ethic player the nfl has ever seen," Cayden Cochran, Coffeyville's starting quarterback for Carter's season there, wrote on his Twitter account in February. "I played w/him. Horrible person & will be a complete cancer to any team on the board."

Carter doesn't deny allegations he wasn't the hardest worker, but he said he learned important lessons, the biggest of which is accountability.

"Really, just being a man of your word, being prompt, organized and on time," he said.

It's a message Nick Saban tried to pass along to him but couldn't. After transferring to Alabama, Carter couldn't get himself academically eligible and was suspended for undisclosed reasons the next spring. He left the program and headed to Florida Atlantic.

"Nick Saban thought he was going to go there, play one year and go into the league," Cris said. "That's what Nick told us."

That was assuming Duron would take care of his business off the field. He didn't.

Carter didn't play a down for the Alabama or for Florida Atlantic, though his father and coach say he made a turnaround last year. Despite being unable to obtain a waiver to play for FAU in 2012, Carter attended practice, worked hard and then watched the team play on Saturdays. His GPA was better than 3.0 and, after being kicked out of practice last summer, his work ethic improved.

As Cris noted, Duron had plenty of chances to quit but didn't because "he's always pictured himself in the NFL."

He has what Cris terms a rare combination of size and speed. But he will most likely go undrafted. That's the penalty for slacking off the past few years.

"I know there aren't a lot of better receivers than him in this draft. That's not a guess; I know. I know wide receivers," Cris said. "Yes, it might take him some time. I just believe in pro football, it's all football. You get millions of reps. And what's the worst-case scenario? Maybe it takes him 16 months.